[First Samuel] reminds us that as God’s children we do not walk alone, but God’s presence abides with us continuously in all situations. This is true not only when life is going particularly well for us but also in those situations in which we face opposition and uncertainty. In [the 18th-20th] chapters we are reminded that God does not fail us or abandon us, especially in times of need. The text highlights the fact that God is dependable even though people and life are not always so. In the case of David, God’s presence helped him gain favor in the eyes of Saul’s family and the people of Israel, protected David when Saul attempted to take his life on different occasions, and gave him success on the battlefield. God’s presence not only gave David the strength to endure these hardships but also the knowledge that God was working in David’s circumstances to bring about a greater good. In this section David married Michal, the daughter of Saul, which made him the son-in-law to Saul and a potential heir to the throne. Moreover, Jonathan loved David to the extent that he willingly abdicated his right to the throne so that David could take his place instead. David’s success as military commander also made David popular with the people of Israel, the people he would rule over one day. Thus, even in these trying times, God was already “preparing” David’s path to the throne. Although David may not have envisioned all that God had planned for him, the pieces of that plan were being placed together one step at a time. This reminds us that our task as God’s children is to rest in God’s care and providence. We may not always perceive or understand how the circumstances in which we find ourselves are preparing us for a future purpose. Our task is to remain patient and obedient while God is actively at work in our situation. Oftentimes, we do not fully realize how God has been leading us in our personal affairs until after God has guided us through them and we have had the opportunity to reflect and meditate on our experiences. It is then that we come to understand and appreciate the manner in which God faithfully directed our steps while the various elements of our situation came into place. --K. J. Mellish, 1 & 2 Samuel: New Beacon Bible Commentary
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 04:44:29 +0000
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